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US Rejects European Requests For Relief On Iranian Sanctions

by VOA News

   The United States has reportedly rejected requests from European allies
   that are seeking exemptions from U.S. sanctions imposed on countries
   doing business in Iran.

   According to diplomats and other officials, U.S. Secretary of State
   Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin wrote a letter to
   Britain, France and Germany saying the U.S. would not provide
   widespread protection from sanctions to countries doing business in
   Iran.

   Pompeo and Mnuchin said in their letter, first reported by NBC News,
   that they are seeking "to provide unprecedented financial pressure on
   the Iranian regime."

   The U.S. did add, however, that it would grant limited exceptions,
   based on national security or humanitarian grounds. The letter came in
   response to a request last month from Britain, France and Germany.

   The U.S. pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal earlier this year. The
   deal sought to limit Iran's nuclear activity in exchange for sanctions
   relief.

   The U.S. said it plans to reimpose tough sanctions on Iran, beginning
   in early August, targeting Iran's automotive sector, trade and gold,
   and other key metals.

   A second set of sanctions are set to begin in early November. Those
   sanctions will focus on Iran's energy sector and petroleum related
   transactions and transactions with the central bank of Iran.

   The U.S. has warned other countries that they will also face sanctions
   if they continue to trade with sanctioned sectors of the Iranian
   economy.

   The Trump administration's hard stance on Iranian sanctions is part of
   a growing list of contentious moves that the U.S. has engaged in with
   its allies. On a recent trip to Europe, Trump complained members of the
   NATO alliance are not fiscally responsible. The U.S. leader also
   criticized British Prime Minister Theresa May's handling of Brexit. He
   has also called the European Union a "foe" on trade issues.